to lead our state department and to work with me in tackling this ambitious foreign policy agenda. >> reporter: what was hillary clinton's initial reaction when you told her, look, they're actually considering you as a possibility for secretary of state? >> she didn't believe it. >> reporter: philippe reines is her deputy assistant. >> i think she said not for a million reasons. >> reporter: if she was hesitant, why not just say no? >> i think she did, or came awfully close. i think the president was very persuasive. >> we're delighted to welcome senator clinton, secretary of state designate. >> reporter: she was quickly confirmed. how would she get along with the man who defeated her campaign? could she work for him? >> everyone expected, including myself, that there would be a lot of division, a lot of secretary clinton going behind the president's back. >> reporter: was there any tension coming in between the two people at the top? >> i think everyone has been surprised. >> reporter: surprised that while secretary clinton and president obama have been separated often, as she tr
